Drew McManus

Yōkai, Obake, and Yūrei: The Rundown on Japanese Creatures

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Although you could say that peak ghost season in Japan is in August, due to the Obon festival, Halloween has experienced a surge in popularity in the last decade. With theme parks like Tokyo Disneyland and Universal Studios Japan holding annual Halloween events since 2000, it has caught on with children and adults alike! Now it’s our turn—in the spirit of cultural exchange, let’s learn a bit about the spooky side of Japanese folklore! Because the Japanese bestiary is so enormous, it would take volumes to do it justice, but …

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CHEERS TO SAKE!

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[twocol_one]DID YOU KNOW today is a highly anticipated day for many Japanese…and basically every sake-enthusiast in the world? Today we celebrate our absolute favorite libation during Nihonshu no Hi, or World Sake Day! This holiday marks the start of the sake brewing season for the year in Japan. Let’s make a toast, and learn a bit about superb, sumptuous, sacred sake! A few fun facts… Sake is the oldest known alcoholic beverage in the world. When it was first introduced in Japan (around 689AD), sake was known as “The Drink …

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Are You Ready for the 2015-2016 Season?

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The last Sushi & Stroll may mark the end of summer fun, but rest assured that our 2015-2016 class schedule is sure to pack quite an educational punch! Learn about the many different programs available to adults throughout the coming season and register now to round out your cultural skillset. Whether you’re interested in speaking Japanese or learning to capture the serene beauty of landscapes through ink, Morikami has you covered: [box type=”alert”]*Advance registration required.[/box] [twocol_one] Sumi-e Ink Painting: Floral or Landscape Class* Price: 4-week session: $60 (Members $55) | 3-week session: …

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Back to school time, already?

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[threecol_two] It may almost be back back to school time, but at Morikami we are making the most of the rest of the summer.  Join us for a final hurrah before it’s time for all work and no play! Family Fun Mini Workshop: Beginners Origami Saturday, August 8 | 11:30am-12:30pm Keep calm and create Origami! Join us for a beginner’s workshop where you will learn simple Origami techniques and make a few fun objects. This workshop is great for kids and all those new to Origami! Family Fun Mini Workshop: Intermediate Origami …

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Robot Day & Cosplay at the Museum & Gardens

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[twocol_one] Robot Day is finally upon us! All summer long people have been buzzing about Saturday’s highly-anticipated event, being held in conjunction with our newest exhibit, Japan’s Robot Kingdom. Not only are we featuring two of pop culture’s most famous Japanese robots, as well as games, crafts and activities, but we also have a fantastic, hand-made robot suit from local cosplayer and robot connoisseur – Ben Albert on-site for Robot Day. Read on for an inside look on how Ben created his Gundam suit, and be sure to join us this Saturday, July 18th from 10:00am-5:00pm …

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